Gardaí in Co Mayo have been recorded talking about threatening to rape a woman in their custody. The Gardaí, including a Sergeant, have been prominent in policing protests against Shell’s inland gas refinery.

Fine Gael’s UnFairCare policy demands more scrutiny. At a time when support for the Dutch model is declining in its country of origin, Fine Gael proposes to import this charter for privateers into Ireland. Marie O'Connor looks at Dominic Haugh's study, which reveals an unaffordable three-tier system, growing waiting lists, cancelled operations, out of control budgets, bankrupt hospitals, professional gravy trains and spawning bureaucracies, all encouraged by pro market think-tanks.

Twenty-two TDs gathered at the gates of Leinster House in a sunny Dublin today to back Dublin Shell to Sea’s call for the new Government to overturn the consents granted by former minister Pat Carey to Shell E&P Ireland on the day of the recent general election.

This Morning at 6.30am we were woken from our beds.Private security working for NAMA were breaking into our homes. We live in a flourishing squatted community in Grangegorman.This space which was once disused warehouses filled with rubble, asbestos and broken glass has been turned into an inspiring and beautiful place to be.The place is coved with artwork, and the community garden has begun to blossom.We have a circus space, poetry nights, folk gigs, Art Exhibitions, Fairs and a community Kitchen.

Eight housing activists were today acquitted by the Dublin Criminal Court of Justice, relating to a case spanning back seven months ago, when the charge against them of trespass was thrown out of court.

All eight accused had initially set about into investigating whether or not it was feasible to open up, and re-do, one of the 80 unused flats on Charlemont Street, that had been lying empty for over two years or more.

Eight housing activists were today acquitted by the Dublin Criminal Court of Justice, relating to a case spanning back seven months ago, when the charge against them of trespass was thrown out of court.

All eight accused had initially set about into investigating whether or not it was feasible to open up, and re-do, one of the 80 unused flats on Charlemont Street, that had been lying empty for over two years or more.

After the relatively large turn-out to the Anti-Water charges protests over a week ago on Saturday the 31st, the government is worried that their propaganda hasn't worked as well as it should so in response they have launched a new dirty tricks campaign to discredit the Anti-Water charges campaign. They are using the same strategy as that used in the Corrib Gas issue in Mayo over the past decade where the strategy was to criminalise the protests in the eyes of the public.

Integrity Ireland which was setup to expose and fight corruption in our legal
and justice system has written an Open Letter to President Higgins because of
the unprecedented obstalces and obstructions that they have encountered.

The open letter reproduced below is seeking the protection of the Presidential Office in the
event we have to arrest two of our most senior judges for criminal conspiracy on Friday January
30th next..

All around the world, the struggle against the State, against capitalism is a struggle against police, too. The killing of activist Rémy Fraisse in France, the kidnapping of the 43 students in Iguala (Mexico), the policial murder on Mike Brown and Eric Garner in USA, the arrest and torture against Nikos Romanos and another greek anarchists, the preventive attacks against the solidarity protest in London (Westfield shopping centre), and recent the prosecution/arrest of anarchists in Spain shows it. Since the beginning of November, there are social protests and riots in at least 21 countries, following the rebellion in North America.

Obs: we thanks a possible translation to Celtic/Irish/Gaeilge idiom for better diffusion for our brothers in Ireland/North Ireland.

The big man protecting the little woman. That explains the sexist picture dominating the Irish Times front page on 23 October, of Taoiseach Enda Kenny looking out for Mairia Cahill.

In our patriarchal society men hold the material and physical upper hand. Women often fight back with emotional and psychological weapons. These are being exploited in this fight, but not by men on the one side and women on the other, but by men and women on both sides.

The spouse of First Minister Peter Robinson, Iris, was in an exploitative relationship with a younger man. He is forgotten (I forget his face and name), while Mrs Robinson was publicly rehabilitated by President Mary McAleese and the Queen of England at a live televised public event in Dublin. She received therapy and expiated her sins, while he was left to his own devices. Who cares, f**k him.

“No one deserves to live like this”
A poster I came across on a billboard recently, juxtaposed by the wasteland where one of our block of flats used to sit, where working class families used to live happily, side by side, before they were all socially cleansed from the area, and for what? Already a year has passed since they were pulled down to the ground, and all we have to show for it now is a lousy carpark—desperate!

Currently, there are over 80 unused empty units in Tom Kelly Flats, some of which have been empty for over five years or more, 3 and 4 bedroom flats too.

Deputy Sean Barrett as we now know, is a major shareholder in a Jersey based investment vehicle called Grove Ltd which in turn runs a major care homes based in the UK and now as it turns out controls the Barchester Healthcare empire of more than 200 care homes. Grove Ltd as it happens is also a major shareholder in Cygnet, one of the largest private provider of psychiatric care services to the NHS.

Despite three reports on this mysterious, the last of which was the 'final word', ambiguities still persist and the most credible version of events would still seem to be the original report from1970 which drew on eye witness accounts.

TDs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly are back in court in Ennis at 2pm on Tuesday March 10th as a result of their attempt to inspect a US military aircraft at Shannon Airport.

This is the second day of a case that has already heard evidence from a number of witnesses who outlined the problematic nature of the US military presence at Shannon. These witnesses included Irish Times Security Analyst Dr Tom Clonan, former UN Deputy Secretary Denis Halliday, international lawyer and neutrality expert Roberto Zamora, and Dr Edward Horgan of Shannonwatch.

The Environmental Pillar is calling on the government to strengthen the Climate Bill in light of sharp criticism for lack of action.

The Environmental Pillar, which is made up of 28 Irish environmental NGOs, is calling on TDs and Senators to amend the Climate Bill.

Today a European Commission working document was published which described Ireland’s climate change commitments as ‘insufficient’.

The EC Country Report Ireland 2015 working document states:

“No progress was made in identifying how Ireland commits itself to meeting its existing, binding climate and energy targets for the period up to 2020 in an integrated way and how best to use the earmarked, available EU support for the structural development needed in the different areas.”

Shannonwatch are urging their supporters to come to Ennis District Court on Tuesday February 24th to support TDs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace who attempted to inspect a US military plane at Shannon last July. Their alleged offence is illegal entrance into a restricted area of the airport, and their action was in response to the failure of the authorities to inspect US aircraft at Shannon.

Shannonwatch have repeatedly called for an end to the US military use of Shannon. They also call for inspection of all military and suspected CIA aircraft at the airport for as long as they are being allowed to pass through.